Karaoke songs in Japanese that are easy for men in their 40s to sing
If you’re a man in your 40s, you probably often find yourself heading to karaoke after work-related drinking parties or reunions with old friends, where you can’t really avoid singing, right?
But don’t you sometimes struggle with what to sing in those moments?
A lot of people feel unsure about what to pick—maybe you don’t know the latest hits well enough to sing them, or you’re not confident in your singing to begin with.
So in this feature, we’ll introduce songs that are easy to sing and well-known across generations, focusing mainly on classic hits from the 1990s to the early 2000s—exactly the era when today’s forty-something men spent their youth.
That period was truly the golden age of J-pop, and getting songs widely sung at karaoke was one of the absolute requirements for boosting sales.
In other words, it’s a treasure trove of easy-to-sing tracks!
We hope this article helps you relive the fun of your younger days and rediscover the joy of singing.
Karaoke songs in Japanese that are easy for men in their 40s to sing (1–10)
To live by loving and being lovedKenji Ozawa
Kenji Ozawa, the artist known for “Tonight Is Boogie-Back.” Many of his own songs are ennui-tinged and emphasize a distinct world-building sensibility, and he continues to enjoy enduring popularity.
Among his works, the one I especially recommend is “Ai Shi Aisarete Ikiru no sa” (“To Love, Be Loved, and Live”).
With an extremely catchy vocal line and a relatively narrow range, it is one of the easiest songs to sing in his catalog.
It’s catchy across generations as well, so be sure to add it to your repertoire.
Shangri-LaDenki Groove
People in their 40s can be said to be a generation that has been exposed to a wide range of musical styles.
Among them, many likely experienced the early impulses of techno and R&B.
With that in mind, I recommend Denki Groove’s classic “Shangri-La.” This song is characterized by a breezy feel with touches of surreal atmosphere throughout.
Surprisingly, the vocal line is actually quite easy to sing.
It might seem a bit high, but the range itself is narrow, so anyone can sing it as long as they set the key properly.
The lack of long sustained notes is another welcome point.
JUST ONE MORE KISSBUCK-TICK
Recently, the visual-kei rock band BUCK-TICK has been working energetically under their new lineup.
Many men in their 40s may have admired them for their high-sense musicality that evokes the aesthetics of David Bowie.
Among BUCK-TICK’s works, the song I especially recommend as easy to sing is “JUST ONE MORE KISS.” This piece has a very narrow vocal range and contains few long sustained notes, making it one of the easiest songs to sing in their catalog.
Invitation to FreedomL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
An example of the strong pop-rock tendencies that characterized L’Arc~en~Ciel in the 2000s, Invitation to Freedom.
Released in 2004, this piece remains highly popular thanks to its catchy melodies and expansive, soaring phrases.
With a vocal range of mid2A to hiE, it is quite wide even among L’Arc~en~Ciel’s songs, making it relatively difficult for those with a narrower range.
However, the pitch movement isn’t particularly drastic, and many phrases emphasize sustain, so for singers with higher voices, it can be considered relatively accessible to perform.
The Fourth Avenue CafeL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
Among L’Arc~en~Ciel’s many hit numbers, The Fourth Avenue Cafe is renowned as a hidden gem.
It’s a piece that carries a subtle sense of emotion beneath its brightness, distinguished by vocals that appeal to the listener’s feelings.
The song’s range is quite broad, from mid1C to hiD#.
While it includes some lower notes and also reaches fairly high, which might make it seem difficult, the pitch movement isn’t very drastic, so it’s a song that’s relatively easy to keep in tune.
Wonderful DaysUnicorn
Unicorn’s classic song “Subarashii Hibi.” Unicorn has many great tracks, but this one—known as one of their biggest hits—boasts exceptional singability.
There are three reasons it’s so easy to sing: first, the vocal range is narrow; second, the pitch movements are gentle; and third, it doesn’t demand much vocal power.
There aren’t many songs that check all three boxes, so it’s fair to call this a very easy song to sing.
It’s even suitable for third-round karaoke, so consider adding it to your repertoire.
Pure Love SongShonan no Kaze
This is Shonan no Kaze’s fifth single, released in March 2006.
The contrast between the beautifully arranged backing track and the slightly rough-sounding rap parts creates a superb balance.
When you pick this for karaoke, don’t worry about “singing it well”—just enjoy the rap sections however you like! The chorus melody is simple, easy to sing, and easy to remember, so feel free to choose it and have fun.
You can split the parts with friends who are there, or sing it solo—either way works.
It’s a song you can enjoy in many different ways!